Mans Uncertainty in the Universe Exposed in Moby Dick The culture this great author was a part of was the time in American history where inspiring works of literature began to emerge. It was also a time when American writers had not completely separated its literary heritage from Europe, partly because there were successful literary genius flourishing there. Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819, he was the son of Allan and Maria Melville. During Hermans childhood he lived in the good neighborhoods of New York City. In 1832 Herman suffered tragedy when his father died after trying to cope with the stress of debts and misfortunes. After a short time in a business house in New York City, Herman determined he needed to go to sea. He spent years traveling on a variety of ships, including whaling ships. Melvilles perspective on life is that God created the universe with an infinite number of meanings and man is always trying to determine one specific meaning. Due to his difficult life experiences, the lessons that Melville weaves into his writing are, exposition on whales and the whaling industry, commentary on the universe and human destiny and thoughts about God and Nature. The protagonist in this book is Ishmael, a Christian, schoolteacher and part-time sailor. Ishmaels role in the hunt for Moby Dick is to interpret what is happening. He discusses his reasons for going to sea and interprets and looks for understanding a number of reasons for any specific action where other characters only understand one reason. It is hard to say what changes take place in Ishmaels personality during the story, since he is the narrator he doesnt talk about himself, he only talks about what he sees. We can learn about Ishmael through his relationships with others. Ishmael befriends Queequeg who is a cannibal. Even though Queequeg is very ugly Ishmael sees that Queequeg has an honest heart, great honor, and a lot of courage. This friendship had a positive influence on Ishmaels behavior because it taught him not to judge on outward appearances. Another relationship that was very short was the relationship between Ishmael and Captain Ahab. For the first few days aboard the Pequod Ishmael always saw Ahab in the shadows. When Ishmael finally saw Ahab he had shivers run through his body. Ishmael felt Ahabs attitude of determination, dedication and hatred towards Moby Dick in Ahabs appearance. This relationship was a negative relationship because Ishmael now feared Ahab and did not want to become friends with such an evil person. The conflict that Ishmael experienced was that he saw how Ahab was such an evil man and that Ishmael was a good natured man and did not want to be corrupted by Ahab. To resolve this conflict Ishmael stayed away from Ahab. Representative Passage on Imagery and Figurative Language Yonder, by the ever-brimming goblets rim, the warm waves blush like wine. The gold brow plumbs the blue. The diver sunlong dived from noon,goes down; my soul mounts up! she wearies with her endless hill. Is, then, the crown too heavy that I wear? this Iron Crown of Lombardy. Yet is it bright with many a gem; I, the wearer, see not its far flashings; but darkly fell that I wear that, that dazzlingly confounds. Tis ironthat I knownot gold. Tis split, toothat I feel; the jagged edge galls me so, my brain seems to beat against the solid metal. Chapter LV A. The details being used to make us feel like we are watching a sunset is that it says the warm waves blush like wine. The gold brow plumbs the blue. The diver sunlong dived from noon,goes down; my soul mounts up! The similes the author uses are the comparison of the colored waves of the sunset to wine. I believe that when the author is talking about the Iron Crown of Lombardy he is talking about the sun. When it says Is, then, the crown too heavy that I wear? he is talking about the sunrise as the sun first starts ascending. I think that noon is where it is says Yet is it bright with many a gem; I, the wearer, see not its far flashings;. I also think that Tis ironthat I knownot gold. Tis split, toothat I feel; the jagged edge galls me so, my brain seems to beat against the solid metal. means he wants to take off the crown signifying sunset. The objects that are representative of larger ideas are Moby Dick who is a symbol of all of the things in the universe. The color of the whale being white could mean so many different and conflicting things that it cant be narrowed down to one meaning. The coffin that was turned into a buoy that saved Ishmaels life could suggest that the meaning of any object lies in the beholder of the object not the object itself. The place that is a representative of a larger idea is the sea. The sea represents a mans life, it symbolizes the fears that a man must overcome in life in order to gain a fuller understanding of life. The sea is a constant presence throughout the novel. As the sea is constantly in the background of the scene. References to previous literature are outlines on the Sperm Whale, but the literature he is referring to do not have name of the works only the names of the authors. I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale: Colnett, Huggins, Frederick Cuviers, and Beales. Representative Passage on Tone and Authors Philosophy What a pity they didnt stop up the chinks and the crannies though, and thrust in a little lint here and there. But its too late to make any improvements now. The universe is finished; the copestone is on, and the chips were carted off a million years ago. The metaphors Melville is using indicates the condition of man and about mans uncertainty in the universe we live in. His tone is that of questioning man choosing his own destiny through his own actions. Melvilles attitude is that of Mans absolute insignificance in the universe. There is nothing Man can do to improve the present state of the universe once he has acted on his decision. Aspects of his philosophy which can be inferred is Mans continual struggle with himself in this universe. The vastness of the universe and mans place in it is difficult for the average man to comprehend. At best he can just figure out one meaning, but there could be more. I. Evaluation This novel has influenced my attitudes and beliefs on the destiny of man and has shown me that there is more than one view of every object. It showed me that I need to be open minded and examine things from more than one point of view before I judge the object. In this novel one of the authors goals was of indicating the condition of man and about mans uncertainty in the universe we live in. Melville also shows the reader about Mans absolute insignificance in the universe. I believe the author was very successful in achieving these goals. Herman did a great job of representing objects with things of deeper meaning. Throughout the book you are shown Mans insignificance in the universe by the relationship of the crew to the ocean. You are also shown of how a Mans decision once executed cant be changed, an example of that is when Captain Ahab throws the spear into Moby Dick. The spears rope got wrapped around Ahabs neck and when the whale dove Ahab went with it. There was nothing Ahab could do to escape. I. The topics in this novel are very true but an adventure loving reader will read this book and focus on what went on rather than what the novel was trying to say. This book could be significant to a reader who wants to know about Mans relation to the universe. The difference this novel will have on society is that it will help a person find their relation to the universe. Bibliography Melville, Herman. Moby Dick, Spencer Press, Inc. 1936 Webmaster Unknown. Herman Melville
As the poem continues, the tone changes. Instead, gold is replaced, which connotes strength, and power, but is cold which contrast the warm feelings given off by the imagery of gold. Lampman states “Stern creeping frosts, and winds that touch like steel, / out of the depth beyond the eastern bars,” (12-13). This quotation not only instills images of cold and harshness, but also of the bleak bars of a prison. This poem is nearly a Petrarchan
Ishmael kills people without it being a big problem or deal. He was forced and threatened. If not then he would be killed. First, he was terrified to see people being killed. In the book, Ishmael quotes “My hand began trembling uncontrollably…” This shows that Ishmael is being aware of his surroundings and of himself. This is important because it shows how Ishmael feels before he and his
The juxtaposition of the Titanic and the environment in the first five stanzas symbolizes the opposition between man and nature, suggesting that nature overcomes man. The speaker characterizes the sea as being “deep from human vanity” (2) and deep from the “Pride of Life that planned” the Titanic. The diction of “human vanity” (2) suggests that the sea is incorruptible by men and then the speaker’s juxtaposition of vanity with “the
To begin, Melville believed that "we are all sons, grandsons, or nephews or great-nephews of those who go before us. No one is his own sire." Thus, his writings both mimic Emerson's views and repel it. For ex...
live boring, uninspired lives. Melville definitely shows his frustration toward the creator and Christian teachings.
Early experiences in Melville’s life influenced many of his writings and the themes of his stories. As you know all of this began in a particular way, just like everybody else’s life.
The most common mythological theme across different cultures is the creation of humankind because everyone has always questioned how the earth was created and so forth. Creation myths are “usually applied to a mytho-religious story which explains the beginning of humanity, life, the earth and the universe as being the result of a deliberate act of supreme beings or being” ("Creation myths," 2007). Individuals from different cultures believe in a higher power known as God and they believe that the higher power is the creator of earth, animals and humankind, however each culture believe in different Gods but they all believe that God is the creator and that is the universal theme across different cultures.
...uous realm that homes the escapee, the moseying felo-de-se, and the dearly (or not so dearly) departed. Whiteness assumes just as many roles derived from just as many man-medium assertions to its being: the role of beauty, purity, holiness, that of awe, and that of terror. Moby Dick, like much of the imagery in the novel, is enigmatic and open to interpretation. This paper has chosen to interpret his role as that of God, the medium of pulchritude, richness, and meaning in life, but also the cause of suffering. One predominant difference between Ahab and Ishmael is which of these they choose to focus on. Ahab’s assumption of the archetypical hero role, with his one catastrophic flaw being the choice and intensity of his focus, sets and anchors the plot, allowing Melville to tangentially and romantically analyze a plethora of other natural stimuli along the way.
Herman Melville’s stories of Moby Dick and Bartleby share a stark number of similarities and differences. Certain aspects of each piece seem to compliment each other, giving the reader insight to the underlying themes and images. There are three concepts that pervade the two stories making them build upon each other. In both Moby Dick and Bartleby the main characters must learn how to deal with an antagonist, decide how involved they are in their professions, and come to terms with a lack of resolution.
In each of these stories, the tale of creation has been presented with a unique twist. Yet there are several important similarities among the various myths. Besides explaining creation, there is always one major creator. However, in some stories such as that of the Boshongo, the creator had helpers whereas in the Shilluk tale, Juok worked alone. In the Boshongo myth, Bumba creates nine animals and mankind. Then these animals and Bumba's three sons worked together creating everything else. In the Shilluk tale, obviously everything is related somehow because everything shares the same creator. Even in other stories where the creator has helpers, however, all of these helpers were made by the creator and thus everything is still connected.
A predominant theme among African creation myth is the people's relation to the land, as a means of survival and origin. The shilluk myth, "An African Story of the Creation of Man" and the Yoruba people's myth, "The Creation of the Universe and Ife" state that man was first made from clay. Both creation myths indicate an awareness and a need for explanation of the physical differences among human beings. The Shilluk myth claims that there are different colored people because of the varying colors o f clay that Joak, the creator according to this myth, encountered as he wandered the world. The Yoruba people's myth explains the differences in the shapes of humans as a result of the god Obatala being drunk when he shaped man out of clay. In both myth s, the action of the creating god caused the variation in man's physical characteristics.
The human voyage into life is basically feeble, vulnerable, uncontrollable. Since the crew on a dangerous sea without hope are depicted as "the babes of the sea", it can be inferred that we are likely to be ignorant strangers in the universe. In addition to the danger we face, we have to also overcome the new challenges of the waves in the daily life. These waves are "most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall", requiring "a new leap, and a leap." Therefore, the incessant troubles arising from human conditions often bring about unpredictable crises as "shipwrecks are apropos of nothing." The tiny "open boat", which characters desperately cling to, signifies the weak, helpless, and vulnerable conditions of human life since it is deprived of other protection due to the shipwreck. The "open boat" also accentuates the "open suggestion of hopelessness" amid the wild waves of life. The crew of the boat perceive their precarious fate as "preposterous" and "absurd" so much so that they can feel the "tragic" aspect and "coldness of the water." At this point, the question of why they are forced to be "dragged away" and to "nibble the sacred cheese of life" raises a meaningful issue over life itself. This pessimistic view of life reflects the helpless human condition as well as the limitation of human life.
Moby Dick's structure is in a sense one of the simplest of all literary structures-the story of a journey. Its 135 chapters and epilogue describe how Ishmael leaves Manhattan for Captain Ahab's whaling ship, the Pequod, how Ahab pilots the Pequod from Nantucket to the Pacific in search of Moby Dick, and how in the end Ishmael alone survives the journey. This simple but powerful structure is what keeps us reading, as we ask ouselves, "Where will Ahab seek out his enemy next? What will happen when he gets there?"
Herman Melville believed deeply in his notion that the common-man receives no justice, only the elite member in a society. Perhaps his belief originated in the society that he lived in, or the situations such as a Civil War, that impacted his viewpoint. Throughout this story, the reader is repeatedly introduced to the consistent idea that the common-man is on his own, and the situations that he encompasses are distorted and augmented as time passes.
The breeze from the Indian Ocean moved across my skin like freshly ironed silk as I stood on the fantail of the aircraft carrier looking up at the night sky. It is an impressive sight to look upon the fires of those uncountable stars. If you were to take the grandest starlit sky that you could imagine, then imagine it after God has thrown another bucket of stars across the dark. That is like the night sky at sea can be.